Table for stretching paravertebral muscles

ABSTRACT

A table for effecting the stretching of the paravertebral muscles, comprising a tubular footing supporting a board (1) and formed of two vertical front legs (2) and two obliquely arranged rear legs (3), rigidly fastened on both sides to two horizontal tubes (22) constituting the edges of the table. 
     The board (1) is at a height which permits a patient lying prone to have his or her legs in empty space, and the table has vertical tubular handles (5) located in the extension of the rear legs (3) and two L-shaped tubular elements (6) sliding perpendicularly to the longitudinal edges (22) of the board and adapted to be locked in position, its rear legs (3) being provided with rungs (31, 32, 33; 41, 42, 43) forming two half ladders (50, 40) spaced apart by a distance (d) which permits the passage of the legs of the patient. 
     The table of the invention is intended for patients suffering from back pains and particularly for kinesitherapeutists.

The object of the present invention is a table which permits, by asimple posture, a stretching of the spinal column and therefore thealleviating of back pains.

Traditional traction tables employ sophisticated systems of pulleys andweights which are difficult to handle and at times dangerous, due toexcessive traction.

The present invention makes it possible to overcome these drawbacks byproposing a table of simple design which is not dangerous in use.

The table of the invention comprises a tubular footing formed of twovertical front legs and two obliquely arranged rear legs, firmlyattached on both sides to two horizontal tubes constituting the edges ofthe table, there being provided on the top of the unit a boardpositioned at a height which permits a patient lying prone to have hisor her legs in empty space.

In accordance with the invention, two L-shaped tubular elements areslidably mounted on the longitudinal edges of the table, their basebeing firmly attached to each of said longitudinal edges and their upperpart extending horizontally, on both sides of the board, which elementscan be locked in position by any suitable means, for instance a screw.The function of these tubular elements is to retain the arms of thepatient once the patient is installed on the table, making it possibleto effect a passive stretching of the paravertebral muscles andtherefore a decrease in the pressure between the vertebrae.

In accordance with the invention, two vertical handles are arranged atthe upper ends of the rear legs of the table so as to permit activestretching of the paravertebral muscles when the patient grips them andextends his/her arms, pushing his/her trunk towards the front end of thetable.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the table of the invention,each of the two rear legs of the table is provided with two or threerungs enabling the patient to climb up and lie prone, allowing his orher legs to hang in the space between the two half ladders formed bysaid rungs.

The invention will be better understood from a reading of the followingdescription, which refers to the accompanying drawing in which anon-limitative embodiment is shown.

The sole FIGURE of the accompanying drawing is a perspective view of thetable of the invention.

Referring to this FIGURE, it is seen that the table of the inventioncomprises a rectangular horizontal board 1 placed on a footing formed oftwo vertical front legs 2 and two rear legs 3 which are inclined towardsthe rear at an angle A of about 110°, assuring good stability of theunit when the patient climbs onto the table, the legs 2 and 3 beingrigidly attached to horizontal longitudinal tubes 22 and horizontaltransverse tubes 23.

On each of the two rear legs 3, there are fastened three inwardlydirected rungs 31, 32, 33 and 41, 42, 43, each of a length of about 12centimeters, constituting two half ladders 30 and 40 separated by aspace d of about 30 centimeters, permitting the patient to have his orher legs dangling or to balance them without their being retained.

Along the longitudinal edges 22 of the board 1 there slide two tubularelements 6 of L-shape which can be locked by a screw 61 in order torestrain the patient under his/her armpits, his/her arms hanging down onboth sides of the table.

The rear legs 3 are extended at their upper part by two tubular verticalhandles 5 which protrude above the board 1 by about 15 centimeters. Whenthe patient grips the handles 5 and stretches his or her arms, the trunkof the patient is pushed forward; the legs of the patient then restagainst the edge of the board 1 at the level of his/her thighs, whichcauses a stretching of the spinal column.

As in the case of any medical table, the four legs are connectedtogether at a short distance from the floor by longitudinal bars 7 andtransverse bars 8 which assure its stability, a free space being left atthe rear of the table so that the legs of the patient can dangle withoutbeing retained.

By way of illustration, for a patient of average height, the table mayhave a height of 120 centimeters and the board 1 a length of 80centimeters and a width of 55 centimeters.

I claim:
 1. A table for effecting a stretching of the paravertebralmuscles, having a tubular footing supporting a board (1) and formed oftwo vertical front legs (2) and two obliquely arranged rear legs (3)which are rigidly attached on the two sides to two horizontal tubes (22)constituting the edges of the table, characterized by the fact that itsboard (1) is at a height permitting a patient, lying prone, to have hisor her legs in open space, and by the fact that it has vertical tubularhandles (5) arranged in the extension of the rear legs (3) and twoL-shaped tubular elements (6) slidably positioned relative to thelongitudinal edges (22) of the board (1), on which edges they are firmlysecured at their base, while their upper part extends horizontally onboth sides of said board (1), which elements (6) are lockable relativeto said longitudinal edges.
 2. A table according to claim 1,characterized by the fact that its rear legs (3) are provided with rungs(31, 32, 33; 41, 42, 43) forming two half ladders (30, 40) spaced apartby a distance (d) which permits the passage of the legs of the patient.3. A table according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that eachhalf ladder (30, 40) is formed of at least two rungs.